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Matchups: ODU has slight edge

Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times
Published 10:49 a.m. MT Nov. 13, 2015

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UTEP senior linebacker Jimmy Musgrave follows his man down the field during practice Tuesday morning. The Miners are preparing for their Saturday morning game against FIU in Miami, Florida with a 10 am MST kick-off. The game can be seen locally on KDBC-TV Channel 4.(Photo: RUBEN R. RAMIREZ / EL PASO TIMES)Buy Photo

At the midpoint of this season, Old Dominion and UTEP were two of the worst teams in the FBS. They have both improved quite a bit since. ODU is a 4 1/2-point favorite, or about what home field is worth in their always sold-out stadium. Here are the matchups:

When UTEP runs the ball
Edge: UTEP
The Miners have gotten steadily better in this area and were quite successful last week against the Rice defense, which is better than ODU's. This one is close.

When UTEP throws the ball
Edge: UTEP
An improved passing game finally gets a check mark against an ODU pass defense that has struggled, though that is somewhat contingent on Hayden Plinke playing. His production can't be replaced.

When ODU runs the ball
Edge: ODU
Ray Lawry already has the Monarchs' single-season rushing record and is coming off a big game. The rushing of quarterback David Washington is also key. UTEP needs to keep improving on this. This one is also close.

When ODU throws the ball
Edge: ODU
The Monarchs hit a new gear after putting Washington in at quarterback and he has two productive targets in Zach Pascal and Jonathan Duhart. UTEP is still suscesptible to big plays.

Special teams
Edge: ODU
UTEP may have the best kicker-punter combo in C-USA with Jay Mattox and Alan Luna most of the team's units are highly rated, but the Miner make too many mistakes to get a check. Warren Redix needs to be the fix at punt returner.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at 546-6151; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @bretbloomquist on Twitter.